Film record card and method and apparatus for its production



Sept. 28, 1954 J. F. LANGAN FILM RECORD CARD AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR. ITS PRODUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG Filed Aug. 17 1949 INVENTOR lb/7n Z'Lzmyan v /a r ORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m u A 7 a m n 3 wr fl a nu W Wm M 3 x NW7 2 f m .mw 4 a E o o o 4- a EE A 1 A UP. .1 a I 3 U 2/ I 8 9 0 a i 5 D a a 1 T J v x w w w s 6 M m 1 WWW w 4 i m M 7 0 a .O i M a F 2 2 if I 7 D I m W4, 5 M NEH. mm%m n F. LANGAN J. FILM RECORD CARD AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ITS PRODUCTION FIG FIG. l2

Sept. 28,1954

F iIed Aug. 1'7 1949 1 Will;

FIG. ll

Patented Sept. 28, 1954 FILM RECORD CARD AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ITS PRODUCTION :John"1i"..Langan',- WmiteiBlains, N. vY., assignor to 1 1 Filmsort-.Inc.-;.a corporation of. Delaware "Application August 17, 1949, Serial No. 110,692

7 16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in record cards and their production,- and includes record cardshaving openingsfor themounting of microfilms or. the likes-therein; record cards having microfilms or the like mounted in :openings therein, animprovedmethod for: mounting microfilms and the like in. such cards, and an improved apparatus for carrying out :the: process and for producing the :finished cardswith the films mounted therein.

The new record-cards, prior to-zthe'mounting of the microfilm or the 1ike-therein;-have one or more openings of a sizeadapted to'receive the film section to be mountedthereinrwith.the edges of said openings'recessedor-u-ndercut to provide an interlocking union-withithefilm'when mounted therein.

The new record-cards-witn thefilm sections mounted therein have'one-or more openings with recessed or undercut edges, .and zwithvtheuedges of the film extending into the 'undercutce'dges of the opening, being forcedunder-highwpressure therein in a moltenstate :and cooledipnder pressure to give an interlocking"zunit between the edge of the film'and theedge oi -.the-open mg.

The improved process of: mounting ;the-;;film sections in the openings inthe cards. involves heating theedge ofqthe ;film under-avhigh-pressurefor a short time to fuse the film.and:; force it into intimate union with-theundercut-edge of the card while under pressure, followed; by cooling under pressure. wThe'process-requires a high pressure and a melting temperaturerfora very short time, followed -.-immediately by cooling while still .under pressure.

The improved apparatus of the-invention, for carrying out the proces,v and :mounting :the' film sections in the cards, .includesa device for heating the film at its edges onlyto ahightemperature'for a very short time while-under==heavypressure to fuse. theedge of-.- the,-1film--and ato-rce itinto the undercut edge of. theicard -and- .to cool the fused edge while .sti11,.,under heavy pressure.

The new record cards v.of the. present-invention areintended for use in card1record systemssuch as indexing, cataloging and....classificationssystems Where it isv desired to.,.provide ,aifilm library or large number of cards-with sections of .-.microfilm or the likeNmoun-ted ,thereinmF-Ihewnew record cards are particularly.advantageous for use in film libraries and-ythe: like with. classification cards havingone or moreopeningstherein and film sectionspmouni'ed insaid openings and which are punched: on perforated ioriclass-i 2 fication purposes and to permit them to be handled in punched-card classification and sorting systems. The-cards used and which are provided with the openings with recessed or undercutedges are single ply cards of a thickness somewhat greater than that of=the film to be mounted therein. The usual film thickness is around 0.0055" and the single ply cards having the recessed or undercut edges may have a thickness, for example,--around 0.0067" or 0.00'70" or 0.0075. The cardsused for cla'ssifi'cation'purposes have portions around the edges or on-other portions of the card than those at which the film section or: sections are located which are punched for-classification purposes and enable the cards to be sorted much as ordinary punched cards are sorted in classification devices-and machines.

Record cards have heretofore 'beenmade with film sections mounted in openingstherein and secured to the card by a thin transparent adhesive sheet overlapping the marginal edge of theafilm and the adjacent marginal edge of the card. This .method of mounting the film sections -in-the cards is entirely. satisfactory but requires "somewhat "expensive and elaborate machinery. for. applying the adhesive sheets to-the card. And -whenthe cards are prepared prior to the mounting of the film sections'therein, they require a-protective cover: forwtheprojecting marginal edge of. the adhesive, and theremoval of thisfiprotective' cover sheet-prior tothe insertion of the film in the opening againstthe adhesive material; The-present invention: makes unnecessary the use of separately. applied 'thin adhesive sheets for holding the film section in the card open.

According to the'present invention, one or more openings are made in :the card with recessed or undercut edges, a filmsection, which may-have complementary recessed or undercut edges, is placed in the opening,-theedge ofthe film isheated-"rapidly and forashort-pe'riod of time to melt it while it is held under a heavy pressure, and the molten edge of the-film is forced into-"the-undercut or recessed edge 'of the card, after whichthe cooling of the film while stilliu-nder'high pressure gives an integral interlocking union of the edge of the film with the undercut edge of the card.

- *Theipunching of the card to form one or more openings therein with recessed or undercut edges may be carried out in the same machine iii-which thefilm sectionis'subsequently inserted in the opening and fastened in place therein by the fusing operation; or the cards may be previously punched by a separate machine and supplied to the mounting machine with the openings already formed therein ready for receiving the film sections. The film sections may be sections of microfilm or of motion picture film or other film sections which are punched or cut to a size corresponding to the size of the openings in the cards in which the films are to be mounted. These film sections may have straight edges, but advantageously have undercut or recessed edges, complementary to the edges of the opening.

The apparatus for unitin the edges of the film with the adjacent undercut edges of the cards includes special heating means for heating the film sections only at their edges and for a short period of time, together with pressing means for applying heavy pressure to the marginal edges of the film while being so heated and subsequently cooled and to the adjacent undercut edges of the cards. The heating is advantageously effected by electrical heating means with the use of low volt-- age and high amperage and with controlled timing of the heating to effect almost instantaneous melting of the edge of the film. If insufficient heat is applied, the edge of the film is not sufii ciently softened or melted to permit it to fiow freely into the undercut edge of the card while if too much heat is applied at too high a tempera ture, there is danger of burning.

The presses used for pressing the marginal edge of the film and the adjacent undercut edge of the card have special surfaces to which the molten film will not adhere. The surface through which the heat is applied is advantageously made of stainless steel, which will rapidly dissipate the heat and cool the marginal edge of the film after the edge has been fused and forced into the underout edge of the card.

The invention will be further described in connection with the accompanyin drawings, which illustrate in a somewhat conventional and diagrammatic manner the new cards and their method of production and the apparatus which is advantageously used in their production; but it will understood that the invention is illustrated thereby but is not limited thereto.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 shows one form of classification card in a preliminary stage of manufacture with a series of holes punched therein prior to cutting out the opening therein;

Fig. 2 is a view of the card of Fig. 1 after the opening has been punched and before the film is inserted;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of part of the card of Fig. 2, with the film inserted in the opening but before the film is secured therein;

Fig. l is a similar View of the card, with the film section secured to the adjacent undercut edge of the opening in the card;

Fig. 5 shows part of a card with a somewhat modified form of undercut edge of the opening in the card, and with a havin a complementary undercut edge inserted in the opening but before the film is secured therein;

Fig. 6 shows the card of Fig. 5, with the film mounted and secured in place therein;

7 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the undercut edge of the card of Fig. 4, showing the edge of the film as it appears in the finished card;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, illustratin the intimate contact of the roughened edge of the card interlocking with the edge of the film;

Fig. 9 is a somewhat conventional and diagrammatic arrangement of apparatus for punching the openings in the card, mounting the film sections therein and securing the film sections in place;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged s ctional view showing the pressing and heating elements of 9;

Fig. 11 shows the details of one form of heat ing element for heating the marginal edges of the film; and

Fig. 12 shows one form of electrical connec" tions for regulating the time and temperature of heating of the heating elements.

The card i of Fig. l is a standard single ply classification card with a thickness of about 0.0067 made of heavily pressed paper, such commonly used in mechanical classifyin and sorting systems where the cards are punched for classification and sorting. This card has a series of small holes 2 therein, such that when the opening 3 is punched in the card, as shown in Fig. 2, the greater portions of the holes will he left to form undercut or recessed portions extendin outwardly from the edge i. The size of the opening is such that when the film t is inserted in the opening, as shown in 3, and the marginal edge of the film is heated under pressure, the edge of the film will be forced in the recesses as indicated at 'i in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of undercut edge or" the opening formed in the card in the form of undercut recesses 8 around the opening ii, and

with a film having a complementary undercut edge therein, prior to being secured to the card and Fig. 6 shows the film secured in place, i the undercut film edge forced against the complernentary undercut edge of the card, as inclicated at l l in Fig. 6.

The fusing of the marginal edge of the and the forcing of the molten film into the undo. recesses are shown on a somewhat enlarged scale in Figs. 7 and 8. The emulsion layer 92 on the film is not forced into the recesses to an extent, but the molten film, when the edge does not have complementary recessed edges, is forced into the recesses and against the rough fibrous edge of the card to form an intimate interlocking union therewith, as indicated at it in Fig. When card openin and film section have complementary interlocking undercut edges, the edges of the molten film will be forced against the edges of the card to give a similar interlocking union. Both the marginal edge of the card and the marginal edge of the film are held under heavy pressure while the film is melted and cooled, with the result that an intimate interlocking union obtained between the edge of the film the undercut edge of the card.

In the apparatus illustrated conventionally in Fig. 9, a common plate or table is is provided on which are located three successive stations.

the station it being the station for punching the openings in the card, the station ill for cuttin out the film and inserting the film section the opening in the card, and the station it being the film sealing station. The punching station includes a punch frame It having a sliding mem ber 20 with an operating rod 2! and carrying punch die 22 which cooperates with a female punch'die 23 in punching out the opening in the card. The station Il for cutting the film sections and mounting them in the cards includes mentaryfrecessed or: undercut edges; of suitable size to fit the opening in thecard, and-for depositingithis'film SectiOn in-the' card opening.

The film sealing station l8' 'includes a} frame 2 9; aslide '3 mounted therein;- operated by toggle arms 3 l wh'ich1'in turn are oper'ated by the operatingirod 32 ',lth-is :rod being actuated by the: cam 33. and its-operating arm 34. The bottomofithe slide carries a top press member-or head 35 held placer by sth'e' wing- 36' and the bolts 3'1. This1press1'head is. advantageously made of "heat resisting plastic; to':which -the molterr fi1m does not-stick, such-' ag: olytetrafiuoroethylene, sold. under thetrade named ""I.efi on;- This plastic material is somewhat elastic and forms a desirable upper: member .for the press for pressing thefilm and c'ard during the sealing operation.

The. bottom? pressmember has asupport 38' carrying. thewmember 39, which is of-insulating material and extends up through an-opening in the plate l5. Arecess'M in:this member hasthe heating element 41 mounted" therein. Above 'the heating element :and'the member 39 is athin insulating layer of-mica 62 andabove this is a thin stainless steelplate-63." The card and film section are located-between: the upper press 1 head 35 and the stainless steel plate: 63,- so that when the card and filmisect-ion are pressed under heavy pressure and heat is applied through the heating element :41; the marginal edge of the film will be melted and forced'into the-undercut-edge of the carduby the melting of thefilm and the heavy pressure applied; The heat' from the heating elements'will pass-up through the'stainless; steel plate 63..atthem'arginal edge of the film. And when theheat is turned off, after the marginal edge'has beenrmelted and forcedintothe undercut edgeof the card, the stainlesssteel plate will rapidly :dissipate' the" heat, and 'cool and solidify and set the film while still under heavy pressure;

thus completing the union of the film and: card. Theaheatingielement shown in Fig; 11 has four thin r.metal-.:resistance heating elements 4!" with thiniinsulation 42lb6tWeBI1 th6m where theyover-- lap, andaresecuredto the member 39 byscrews 43. These elements. are connected by wires 44 and to. a source of ilowivoltage and high amperage current: through. connections 45 and 46; "which lead rto the secondary 4-! 'oftlie transformer .48.

The line 45 :hasxanxammeterxifli therein" and a shunt 50. erg; of "10. amperes.

The primary 5| of the transformer' 48 is -iconnected:to almech'anical timinghdevice 52sthrough connection 53 havinga fixedresistance '54 therein and connection 55 having the rheostat'56th'erein. Current 1' s supplied .to the mechanical .timing. devicefromtthe current supply 5'1;-ha.ving a switch 53-which is closed. byfengagement of 'the operat ing'iarm 59.With the .togglemechanismtl. The arrangement is such that when the .togglemechanism is actuated and. heavy pressuresis. appliedrto' the card andfilm theswitch 58. isrclosed andcurrent applied through the mechanical timing device to the heating element.

The mechanical timing. device is adjustableto vary the time ofheating and :the time" may be as little as a :second oriless.

With atwenty volt transformer=-and.the current to .the primary regulated by thezfixed resish ance and thesrheostat, a current: ofe. .g..18 .iam--' .carried theteby cooperating :With the female. :die; -'2 8'Ifor punchinguout a section of the film; which". mayihave straight' edges :or icomple- 7 pereszmaw be usedrimftliem'eating-:element. And withithee heating .element I:.have used, I have foundatime ofab'out' 0L7 second sufficient toheat therlelementtto incandescence .to obtain flash fusingtof'the marginal edge "of'tthe film which, under the heavy pressure-.1 appliedby 'thepress; forced the molten film into the undercut edge of the card;x.Turning off 'oftheheating element by the mechanical;i.timerf resulted'in dissipation of the heatfbyrthe stainlesssteelpl'ate in contact with theafilm andrthe: moltent'fil-m margin was rapidly cooledand set while lthe pressure was still maintain'ed:

While the-"heavy pressure is being applied, both 1 themarginal edge of the card around the openingrand'sthe marginal edge of the film are subjected'ato theheavyzpressure, the marginal edge of the cardiis somewhatcompressed, and the marginal edge ofthefilm'is forced'into the compressed'aundercut edge: :of lthe card.

The securing of a film section to an undercut marginal edgeofthe'card opening in the manner above describedgives'.axunion of'the film and card which holdsthezfilm section firmly in place without thei-use of addedadhesive. The rapid and almost instantaneous heatingrof the marginal edge of the film does-notobjectionably distort. the main portion' 'of the film" or interfere w'ithzits .subsequentprojection.

' Whileonly asing-le opening has been shown in the drawing, it will be evident that two or: more similar openings can bermade 'in the same card and :filrn; sections similarly. secured in place therein...

. In the: apparatus A above illustrated and describfeduthe operating means I for 1 operating the punch; for cutting. and inserting the firm, and for'pressing and sealing 'devices,: has not been shown. These :canbe operatedsimultaneously oniasuccessive cards which are fed continuously frcm ioneastationzto the next and a large number of: cards cantbexhandled and the film sections mounted therein. The pressing and heating ele mentsfonsea'lings'the edge of the film in the card are" operated i-byltheisame mechanism which can beirea dily timed: sothatthe pressure is applied priorto, during and-subsequent .to the heating and fusing of. the film. margin, and the heating applied only for: a .very short time to fuse the margin .of the film followedby turning ofi of the heat and rapid dissipation of'the heat and cool ingofatherfilm: by the stainless steel plate on whichzzitiis'supported. The material of the upper contact elements of the press is of plastic to which thefilm does not adhere, and the lower element is.iof=stain1ess-steel to: which the fused film does not adhere; as well .as a material which rapidly dissip'ates'theheat and cools the film edge after it.has.been fused and forcediinto the undercut edgeofithe. cardunderthe heavy pressure applied.

- The cards in which'the films are mounted when punched: for classification. are advantageously punched prior to the forming of ithe openings in theizcard..and'itherinsertion of. the film sections therein; If' the; apparatus above described. is notoperatedautomatically but manually, the operator: can zfirst. punch theundercut opening in the.:card,-move it to itheifilmiinserting section, check the. withrthe :classification .on the card to::insure.the:.correct film' isection for the. card prepared. therefor; and: then" pass .-the card and films to the sealing section; where pressure can be: appliedand. theheat' then" applied. Where the heating elementtis not aconnectedztotand operated by the toggle mechanism of the press, a separate push button 60 is provided to permit starting the mechanical timing device by hand, this device will automatically shut off the current after the short period of time required for the heating and fusing operation.

I. claim:

1. The method of mounting microfilms in openings in record cards of fibrous material which comprises inserting a film section in an opening in the card, which opening has an edge undercut at spaced points along the same providing notches therein, applying a high pressure to the edge of the film and the adjacent edge of the card, heating the edge of the film for a short time while under such pressure to fuse the edge of the film thus causing it to flow into direct bonding engagement with the undercut edge at all points along the same and completely fill said notches, and then rapidly dissipating the heat from the edge of the film while still under pressure.

2. The process according to claim 1, in which the film prior to application of heat and pressure thereto has undercut edges complementary to and intermeshing with the undercut edges of the opening in the card.

3. The method according to claim 1, in which the film has straight edges which are forced in a flowable state into the notches of the undercut edges of the opening in the card and into direct bonding engagement with said undercut edges at all points along the same.

An apparatus for mounting microfilms in openings in record cards of fibrous material including an upper press member of heat resistant plastic material, a lower press member having a press surface of stainless steel, localized heating means for heating the film at its edge only to fuse the edge of the film, and timing and control mechanism for turning on and oif the heating means and for applying pressure by said press elements before, during and after said heating operation.

5. An apparatus for mounting microfilms in record cards of fibrous material including a press for pressing the marginal edge of the film and the adjacent edge of the card, an electrical heating element for heating the marginal edge of the film only and the adjacent edge of the card to effect rapid melting of the film, timing mechauir n for turning on and off said heating element, means for actuating said press to press the film before, during and after the operation of said heating element.

6. A record card of single ply fibrous material having one or more openings therein of a size adapted to receive microfilms and the like, said openings having edges undercut at spaced points along the same providing notches therein, and film sections mounted in the openings in said cards, said film sections having edge portions engaged in said notches and being bonded at their edges to the undercut edges of the openings at all points along the same.

'7. A card as defined in claim 6, in which the notches and the edge portions of the film engaged therein have complementary reduced throats and necks, respectively, forming an interlocking union between the card and the film.

8. An article of the character described, comprising a fiat body member of a uniform thickness having an aperture therein of a predetermined size and shape, an insert member of the same shape and substantially the same size as said aperture positioned in the latter, one of said members being formed of fusible material and the other of said members being formed of a material having an affinity for said fusible material, the fusible member having the edge portions thereof adjoining the said other member directly contacting the adjoining edges of the said other mem ber and bonded thereto.

9. An article as defined in claim 8 wherein the adjoining edge portions of one of the members has notches therein with adjoining portions of the other of the members engaged in said notches, said latter portions directly contacting the peripheral edges of said notches and being bonded thereto.

10. An article as defined in claim 8 wherein the insert member is formed of the fusible material and the peripheral edge portion thereof is in direct contact with the surrounding edge of the aperture in the body member and is bonded thereto.

11. An article as defined in claim 10 wherein the insert member is in the form of a cellulose acetate photographic film, and the body mem ber in the form of a card of fibrous material.

12. An article as defined in claim 1% wherein the insert member has portions thereof engage in notches formed in the adjoining surrounding edge of the body member and opening into the aperture in said body member, said portions hav ing direct contact with the peripheral edges of said notches and being bonded thereto.

13. The method of mounting an insert member in an apertured body member, one of said members being formed of a fusible material and the other of said members being formed of a material having an afiinity for said fusible material, which comprises positioning the insert member in the aperture in the body member, softening the portions of the fusible member adjoining the said other member, applying pressure to the softened portions to spread the same into intimate adhering contact with the adjoining edges of the said other member, and then permitting said softened and spread portions to set.

14. A record card or the like comprising a thin single-ply card having an aperture therein, the peripheral wall of said aperture being constituted by an edge surface of the card transverse to the planes of the opposite faces of the card and the thickness of said card being of the order of about .007 inch, and a sheet of thermoplastic material wholly within said aperture between said planes and having the entire peripheral edge thereof bonded by a direct thermoplastic bond to said edge surface constituting the periphery of said aperture.

15. A record card or the like comprising a thin single ply card having an aperture therein, the peripheral wall of said aperture being constituted by an edge surface of the card transverse to the planes of the opposite faces of the card, and a sheet of material wholly within said aperture between said planes and having the peripheral edge thereof bonded to said edge surface constituting the periphery of said aperture, said edge surface being undercut to provide an irregular edge surface to which the edge of the sheet is bonded.

16. The method of mounting sheets of thermoplastic material, such as microfilms, in openings in record cards of fibrous material which comprises inserting a sheet of thermoplastic material in an opening in the card, applying high pressure to the marginal edge of the sheet and the adjacent marginal edge of the card around said opening, heating the marginal edge of the sheet momentarily during said application of pressure to a temperature at which said marginal edge of the sheet will flow under said pressure, and thereafter dissipating the heat from said marginal edge of the-sheet during continued application of said pressure, whereby the marginal edge of the sheet is caused to flow and become thermoplasticly bonded to the edge of the card constituting the periphery of said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number 10 Name Date Burker Sept. 3, 1940 MacHarg Sept. 16, 1941 Lumbard Feb. 23, 1943 Fiekers May 9, 1944 Olson Jan. 16, 1945 Carver Apr. 10, 1945 Haberstump Jan. 8, 1946 Morrison Jan. 3, 1950 Butler Mar. 20, 1951 Langan Feb. 26, 1952 Baker Oct. 7, 1952 

